The group of water-loving people on the front cover are volunteers for ORCA, the Ocean Research & Conservation Association.

They are anticipating this season’s Planet and Oceans Speakers Series, which begins with Astronaut Joe Acaba at 7 p.m. on Jan. 30, sharing experiences from his recent four-month long assignment on the International Space Station.

Orbiting 240-miles above earth gave Joe Acaba a new perspective on our planet.

Kirt Schuldt says, “I am curious to hear his perspective, because he is looking at our environment from miles away in space and sometimes things change at a distance. Sometimes good and sometimes not good.”

At 7 p.m. on Feb. 27, National Geographic photographer Carlton Ward Jr. will discuss his work. Carlton is part of eight generations of Florida history and his passion for nature was born from the Florida landscape. He was recently on assignment photographing the Indian River Lagoon and will share some of those images. His photographs will be on display from Jan. 15-March 7 at the A.E. Backus Museum in Fort Pierce as part of the “Tribute to Backus,” which focuses on the lagoon.

Finally, OCRA’s founder Dr. Edie Widder, a deep sea explorer and MacArthur Fellow, will present “Science Sea Stories and Out Takes” at 7 p.m. on March 27. This look back at 30-years of un-publishable bloopers and blunders is sure to be memorable.

Andrew McGinnis of TD Bank says, “This is our second year in partnership with ORCA and we are very happy to be part of the Speaker Series and all the positive contributions they bring to the area.”

Lisa Jensen started volunteering with ORCA three months ago. “I am looking forward to meeting and introducing the speakers on stage at the events.”

Jack Shupe is a former director of cartography for National Geographic. “Therefore I have a keen interest in maps,” he says. “About three-years ago Dr. Widder brought a map to the Vero Beach City Council meeting. The map was a result of some of the testing ORCA had done. This was the first time I had any idea there was a problem in the lagoon, and her map demonstrated it perfectly. I agreed to be a volunteer soon after.”

Fort Pierce native Preston Marsh is 11, and he says, “I am in the water every day. I like getting wet. I fish and swim. The health of the lagoon is very important. I worry about it.”

Ten-year old Isabel Jennings adds, “If you ignore the lagoon, it will keep going away until there is nothing left. It’s up to us.”

And 11-year old Lily Naughtin explains, “I help because it has always been a passion for me to become a marine biologist.”

Proceeds from the series,which is sponsored by TD Bank and Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers/TCPalm.com., benefit ORCA’s work protecting the Indian River Lagoon.

Tickets for the three-part lecture series are $75 per person in advance. Individual tickets are $35 per person in advance and $40 at the door. Student tickets are $20 per person and are available at the door, only. All presentations will be held at The Emerson Center, 1590 27th Avenue, Vero Beach.

Call (772) 778-5249 for tickets or order online at TheEmersonCenter.org.